An international relief and rescue effort swung into action on Sunday with Japan, the United States and the European Union among the first to offer both manpower and financial assistance.

Japan sent a 50-person emergency relief team, Britain sent a 60-person rescue and relief team, and eight US helicopters were dispatched to help with search and rescue. But more helicopters are needed as many roads were destroyed.

China, France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece and the Netherlands have also sent search and rescue teams to help in the race to save many survivors who remain trapped inside the rubble of crumbled buildings.

Medical charity, Medicins sans Frontiers has teams on the ground and the United Nations has set up humanitarian coordination operations in the Pakistan capital, Islamabad, and in the badly hit Pakistani-administered Kashmir capital, Muzaffarabad.

Pledges of financial assistance have also been pouring in. The World Bank has offered $US20 million and the Asian Development Bank $10 million while many nations have pledged assistance.